Electric switch



`(No Model.)

0. S. PLATT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

OCRON S. PLATT, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 601,276, dated March 29,1898.

Application filed February 2, 1897. Serial No. 621,707. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, OCRON S. PLATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of electric switches known as double-pole switches, and has for its object the providing` of a simple, economical, and efficient spring-actuated switch;` and the invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a transverse vertical section of a switch constructed in accordance with my improvements, taken on line l of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a vertical section of a portion of the mechanism, taken on line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4., a plan view, partly in section, taken on line 4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 5, a side elevation of the indicating mechanism, looking at it from line 5 of Fig. l; and Fig. G, a broken plan View showing the indicating mechanism, looking at it from above.

In the art to which this invention relates it is well known that it is desirable to have the switch make and break its connections as quickly as possible, so as to prevent sparking, heating, and consequent burning of the parts. Further, it is desirable to make a switch of lsimple construction, so that it may be easily manufactured, inexpensive to repair or replace the parts, and as efficient as possible in operation.

The principal object of myinvention therefore is to remove or minimize the objections found in the constructions of the prior art and to provide a switch having the advantages or characteristics above noted.

In constructing a switch in accordance with my improvements I make a base-plate A of insulating material (porcelain) and of the desired size and shape. To this base I secure the circuit-terminals B in any suitable manner. These terminals may be of any desired shape or size, though I prefer to make the upper portions of them tapered, as shown at b, for the purpose of insuring a better electrical contact, as hereinafter described. In order to electrically connect and disconnect these terminals, of which there are two, I make a verticallymovable contact bar C when compared with its base portion and provided at its ends with contact-springs c, which are mounted thereon in any suitable manner and which may be of any desired shape or material, though, broadly speaking, I prefer to make them in a substantially U- shaped manner, so that there is a tendency to oppose contraction and thereby secure a better contact when forced into engagement with the tapered portion of the electric terminals. The contact-brushes are loosely and insulatin gly mounted upon the contact-bar by means of insulating-sleeves or rubber thimbles D, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. These sleeves may be made in two parts, as shown by the letters D D' to the right of Fig. 2,or in one part, as shown to the left, as may be considered most economical or desirable to the manufacturer.

In order to move the contact-bar vertically or in the desired direction-that is, into and out of engagement with the terminals-I provide a substantially central rod or shaft E, that passes through a suitable perforation or opening in the contact -bar. Surrounding this shaft and contacting each side of the contact-bar are loose washers G and G', between which and the casing and surrounding the shaft are helically-coiled springs g g', each acting on opposite sides of the bar, one of such springs being at all times normally under compression and the other normally, or what might better be termed relatively, under compression, so as to force the contactbar in one direction when the tension of the other spring has been removed, as hereinafter described. Secured to the shaft in the perforation of the contact-bar and between the loose washers is a sleeve II, arranged to have the same movements of the shaft, which are in the same direction as the movements of the contact-bar, but which are independent of the movements of the contact-bar. From an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the central rod or shaft may have a movementindependent of the contact-bar.

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In order to hold or lock the contact-bar at its make and break points, or, as I prefer to term it, its different positions, I provide two vertical guide-rods, relatively speaking, II', which are secured together at their upper ends by means of a yoke or plate and at the opposite or lower ends by means of ayoke which servesto also hold the base in position by means of the threaded ends of the rods and the nuts 2. These guide-rods, which form a part of what, technically speaking, may be termed a housing, are slotted longitudinally, as at 3, and in these slots I pivotally mount two sets of dogs l and 5, oppositely pivoted, and which are held in their normal engaging position by means of the springs 6. Then the contact-bar is moved or thrown to the position shown in Fig. 2, the lower set of dogs is forced out and held in its normal position by means of the small springs and engages with the lower side of the contact-bar and operates to hold it in its open or break position. In order to move the contact-bar to its make position or such position as will electrically connect the terminals, the central movable rod E is moved downwardly, relatively speaking. This action forces the washer G downwardly until its outer edges contact the inner ends of the dogs 4, moving their outer ends away from contact with the bar and entirely within the slot. At the same time the spring g is compressed and its tension removed from in any way acting upon the contact-bar, thus permitting the compressed spring g to move such bar downwardly and carry its contact-brush into engagement with the terminals for the purpose of closing or making its circuit. The upper set of dogs 5 is then thrown out, so that it contacts the upper edges of the movable bar and holds it in opposition to the tension of the spring g and in engagement with the terminals. By this means it will be seen that not only do I provide spring mechanism for actuating the bar, but also provide mechanism for locking the bar in its different positions against the tension of the spring. Calling particular attention to the functions of the elements it will be seen that one springthe spring that is in position to act-has a tendency to unlock the parts, as contradistinguished from a spring which actuates and has a tendency to keep those parts in their locked position.

In vorder to facilitate the operation of the central rod or shaft, I provide a swinging lever K and pivot it in any suitable manner to the casing L, preferably as shown at k in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This swinging or, as I have called it, operating lever is provided with two push-buttons 7c and 7a2, which may be made of any suitable material and in any shape to give a workman-like iinish and appearance to the parts.

In order to indicate the position of the contact-bar at all times, I provide an indicatingwheel M, with its pivot or axis of movement horizontal or at right angles to the movement of the contact-bar. This indicating-wheel is provided with the necessary characters or figures-such, for instance, as on anc olif as shown in Fig. 6, and projects through the finishing-plates N, as shown in Figs. l and 0, in such a manner that there is no substantial opening for the introduction of dust or foreign matter to the parts, at the same time presenting symbols to indicate the position of the parts. In order to operate this indicatingwheel, I provide a connecting-link m, pivoted to the wheel, as shown in Fig. 5, and to the contact-bar in such manner that the movement of the bar in a downward direction, relatively speaking, vibrates the wheel to present the word on, while the movement of the contact-bar in an upward direction moves the wheel to present the word oit, as shown in Fig. 6. The advantages of having theindicating-wheel mounted at right angles with regard to the movement of the contacting-bar is to permit its projection and consequent inspection without leaving an opening of any material size for the introduction of foreign substances or materials.

In order to present a iinish to the switch, I make a face-plate N, as above indicated, to cover the upper portion of the mechanism and provide it with suitable perforations, through which the push-button and indicatingvhecl may project. This iinishing-plate is provided with two downwardly-projecting lugs fn, arranged to be contacted and engaged bylaterally-acting springs n', located in the casing. By this construction and arrangement the face-plate can be quickly and easily removed at all times to permit an inspection of the parts when they are removed from position. As shown in Fig. 2, the plate O underneath* that is, the plate by which the parts are secured in positionis provided with screwholes o and slots o', in which movable parts operate, so that the face-plate covers these unsightly portions and presents an artistic finish to the mechanism.

In speaking of the relation and movement of the parts I have used the terms vertical, upperf and lower in a generic sense, relating to the position of the parts in the drawings and not to the position they may occupy in use, for it can be readily seen that "the movable contact-bar and central shaft I contemplate all proper changes in form, construction, and arrangement, the omission IOO IIO

l. In an electric switch, the combination of a base portion provided with circuit-terminals, a movable contact-bar arranged by its movements to electrically connect and dis-v connect the terminals, independent spring mechanisms-one normally under compression and the other relatively normally uncompressed, and means for compressing' the uncompressed spring and releasing the compressed spring` to throw the contact-bar into and out of engagement with the terminals, substantially as described.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of a base portion provided with terminals, a movable contact-bar arranged by its movements to electrically connect and disconnect the terminals, independent spring mechanisms one for throwing the bar into engagement and the other for throwing the bar out of engagement with the terminals, and means for locking the contact-barin its different positions and locking the spring under tension and ready for action,l substantially as described.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of a base portion provided with circuit-termi-v nals, a vertically-movable contact-bar arranged by its movements to electrically connect and disconnect the terminals, independent spring mechanisms at least one arranged at each side of the contact-bar one normally under compression and the otherI normally or relatively uncompressed, means for compressing the uncompressed spring and for releasing the compressed spring to throw the bar into and out of engagement with the terminals, and means for locking the contact-bar in its different positions and against the tension of the spring mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of a base portion provided with circuit-terminals, a movable contact-bar vertically arranged when compared with the base portion and by its movements to electrically connect and disconnect the terminals, and independent spring mechanisms at least one arranged at each side of thevcontact-bar one normally under compression and the other normally or relatively uncompressed, and means for compressing the uncompressed spring and for releasing the compressed spring to throw the contact-bar into and out of engagement with the terminals, substantially as described.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of a base portion provided with circuit-terminals, a movable contactbar vertically arranged when compared with the base portion and by its movements to electrically connect and disconnect the terminals, springs arranged at each side of the contact-bar one for throwing the bar into and one for throwing the bar out of engagement with the terminals, means for compressing one spring and allowing the tension of the opposite one to move the contact-bar, and means for locking the contact-bar in its different positions and against the tension of the spring mechanism, substantially as described.

(3. In an electric switch, the combination of a base portion provided with circuit-terminals, a verticallymovable contact-bar arranged by its movements to electrically connect and disconnect the terminals, spring mechanisms arranged at each side of the contact-bar one normally under compression and the other normally or relatively uncompressed for operating the bar, a vertically-movable rod or shaft for compressing the uncompressed spring so as to alloT the compressed spring to throw the bar in the desired direction, substantially as described.

7. In an electric switch, the combination of a base portion provided with circuit-terminals, a vertically-movable bar arranged by its movements to electrically connect and disconnect the terminals,helically-coiled springs arranged at each side of the contact-bar in opposition to each other one normally under compression and the other normally or relatively uncompressed for throwing the bar into and out of engagement with the terminals, a vertically-movable shaft or rod for compressing the uncompressed and releasing the compressed springs to operate the bar, and means for locking the bar in its different positions and against the tension of the spring mechanism, substantially as described.

8. In an electric switch, the combination of a base-plate provided with terminals, a vertically-movable contact-bar arranged by its movements to electrically connect and disconnect the terminals, spring mechanism arranged at each side of the contact-bar to operate the same, a vertically-movable rod or shaft for compressing the spring mechanisms as desired to allow the opposite spring to operate the bar, two pairs of locking-dogs arranged to hold the contact-bar in its different positions, means on the vertical shaft arranged to contact the dogs at the proper time and unlock the same to permit the bar to be operated, substantially as described.

9. In an electric switch, the combination of a base-plate provided with circuit-terminals, a vertically-movable contact-bar provided with a substantially central opening arranged by its movements to electrically connect and disconnect the terminals, guide -rods upon which the contact-bar is guided and moved, provided with longitudinal openings or slots, a helical coiled spring arranged at each side of the contact-bar to operate such bar in opposition to its tension and throw it into and out of engagement with the terminals, two pairs of locking-dogs pivotally mounted in the grooves of the guide-rods for holding the contact-bar in its different positions, spring mechanism for holding the locking-dogs in their normal locking position, a verticallymovable shaft or rod passed through the cen- IOO IIO

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tral opening in the contact-bar, independently-movable Washers interposed one at each side of the contact-bar-between it and the coiled springs-and arranged by the movement of the vertically-movable rod to compress the coiled spring and unlock the dogs on one side of the contact-bar and permit the coiled spring at the opposite side of the contact-bar to throw such bar in the desired direction, and means for operating the verticallymovable rod, substantially as described.

l0. In an electric switch, the combination of a base portion provided With circuit-terminals, a contact bar vertically arranged when compared with the base and adapted by OCRON S. PLATT.

Witnesses:

FRED W. TRACY, WM. Il. KELsEY. 

